Ten Watches to Consider as a Motorcyclist

May 5

Watches and wheels. Wheels and watches. Hey, that could be a podcast. We need more of those, right? A lot like we need another motorcycle website.

I’ve been an admirer and collector for two decades. I’ll try to stay focused on watches that have something to do with motorcycles. I’ve been on a streak of tangential topics lately. Why change now?

USEFUL/STYLISH WATCHES FOR MOTORCYCLISTS

Omega Moonwatch Professional Chronograph - $6,600

Since no watch list would be complete without the Moonwatch, I’m mentioning it first. Though obviously associated, and marketed heavily, with the moon, it has been around since the 1950s. It predates the moon-landing and named the Speedmaster for a reason. A chronograph with tachymeter is right at home on the track or anywhere you want to know how fast something is happening.

People lust after the Rolex Daytona Cosmograph but that is only because it is made of unobtanium and has a crown on the dial. The Speedmaster looks better (to me) and is, arguably, the best-looking watch in history. Even better, you can actually buy one. Would I have a Daytona? Probably, if they were a lot cheaper. If it were priced equal to the Speedmaster, I’d still go with Omega.

Parent company Swatch Group replaced the old Lemania 1861 movement in 2021 after a 25-year run. Now with a Master Chronometer, retail price has increased by $1250. Non-current models are available for less. In fact, I might know where you can find one.

Ignore the moon association and it is a respected and classic watch design that would not look out of place in any automotive or motorcycle activity. Whether collecting watches or motorcycles (or both) is your hobby of choice, you should own this watch. You don’t have to own it forever but you would be remiss not to have one, at least for a short time.

Breitling Aerospace Evo - $4,450

This Breitling does everything the Omega does (no tachymeter, unfortunately) but more and in a different way. Where the Omega is an entirely manual experience (even manual wind), the Aerospace has technology on its side. Sure, if you thumb your nose at quartz-powered wrist jewelry, it won’t be your jam. I’m a big fan of HAQ (High Accuracy Quartz) and Breitling’s SuperQuartz is accurate to within 10 seconds per year.

It is very light because of its titanium construction and also very thin. This makes it comfortable to wear under all your motogear. The watch has many functions, all controlled with the crown. Some say only having a crown to control every function makes the watch too difficult to use. If you agree and want pushers, alternatives are Chronospace and Exospace. These are both larger watches, though, and more expensive.

Casio Databank DBC611 - $60

Let’s say you don’t want to drop Omega or Breitling money but still desire something useful for powersports. I got you. Buy a Databank.

The little Casio from the 80s has an annual calendar (pre-programmed through 2099), alarms and all the other things you’d expect of a digital watch. The main selling point for motorcyclists, though, is the fact that it is a calculator on your wrist to check fuel consumption without pulling out your phone. And you’ll look good doing it.

Casio’s US site does not list this watch. If you want one, you’ll have to go to Amazon and other online retailers (like you weren’t going to do that, anyway). Price varies but hovers in the $60 range. I received one for Christmas in 2019 and it is the only watch anyone has ever asked about. The downside of all of this practicality is that the bracelet has a tendency to rip out the hair on my wrist.

If you buy one, get it in gold-tone. Trust me.

Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm - $575

This is the least motorcycle-specific watch that will be on the list. It is the most basic of timekeeping you can have on your wrist. No alarms, no chronographs, no day or date window. It is a manual-wind slice of simple pie.

Why did I include it on the list if it isn’t in any way useful for a motorcyclist? I’m biased and I wear it nearly every day. It is my go anywhere, do anything watch. My daily beater. I just keep it away from water because it isn’t very resistant.

When I went on my weeklong trip to Death Valley with the Ural and Mrs. Bald Rider, this is the watch I reached for.

TUDOR Pelagos LHD - $4,925

LHD is an acronym for Left Hand Drive which is what we call watches with the crown on the left. You don’t have to be a southpaw to wear one of these. With no crown sticking out at 3 o’clock and wearing the watch on your left wrist, there is nothing protruding to dig into your skin.

I chose the Tudor Pelagos to include on this list because it is a fantastic, modern watch made lightweight by use of titanium. However, it is not exactly small and you may find it uncomfortable to fit under full-gauntlet gloves or stiff motorcycle jacket cuffs.

If this watch is too large or heavy for your wrist or wallet, there are other watches with the crown elsewhere. Seiko (below), Citizen, Doxa and others all have offerings at more reasonable prices.

COLLABORATIONS AND LIMITED EDITIONS

Breitling and Triumph Top Time- $5,800

The Top Time is the second Breitling on the list and has the Triumph logo on the dial. It is part of their collection inspired by motorsports.

I really like the looks of this timepiece and I think it is the best piece in the collection with the Deus collaboration a close second. I don’t know if it is a faux pas to have matching motorcycle and wristwatch but you could coordinate your watch and your bike if you had this watch.

Seiko 5 Honda Super Cub- $400

The Super Cub 5 was released back in February of this year. I love this watch, particularly the green version. You can buy the non-limited SRP models for less but they don’t have the character of the Honda collaboration examples or others produced in limited runs.

What really draws me into this watch more than the Triumph/Breitling collaboration is that it is so much more attainable. Purchasing this watch and a Super Cub for less than the Breitling is an interesting idea for those of us who cannot stop buying motorcycles. That value really speaks to the spirit of both Seiko and Honda.

Yes, both companies sell more expensive models but their entry level offerings are nothing to turn up your nose at.

Bulgari Aluminum Ducati Special Edition -$5,000

If this motorcycle-inspired watch tells me anything, it is that I am not the target demographic for either Ducatis or Bulgaris. Subtlety is not in either of their vocabularies. There is one thing that I appreciate about this watch. It only says Ducati on the back. The style certainly isn’t my thing.

The Bulgarcati (Dugari?) is made of aluminum and has a column wheel chronograph mechanism. That’s pretty neat. There aren’t many column wheel chronographs around.

I’m not sure how such a soft metal like aluminum will hold up to scratches over time. Surely, one of the 1,000 people who buy this watch will find out.

Tissot T-Race MotoGP - $650

Tissot has been the official timekeeper of MotoGP since 2001. There have been several limited edition Tissot/MotoGP watches over the years. For 2023, the T-Race MotoGP model reminds me of the Bulgari above but significantly cheaper. It doesn’t have a mechanical movement but quartz the watch doesn’t suffer for it. Don’t be a snobby mechanical elitest.

If you like the Bulgari but do not want to take a match and light $5k on fire, this might be a good choice for you.

A WATCH MADE FOR MOTORCYCLISTS

Seiko “Rider’s Chronograph” - ¥35,000 (~$260 at current exchange rate)

Why not design a motorcycle watch and get weird with it?

The Seiko Giugiaro SCED055 is the reason I started thinking about this topic. Released in 2016, this piece is another in a history of collaboration between Seiko and Italian designer, Giugiaro. You may know the company by their name in automotive circles, ItalDesign. It is a funky little mashup of styling from both East and West influences, specifically designed for motorcyclists. The dial is rotated and angled 5 degrees to be legible from the wrist while holding onto the handlebar. Giugiaro’s design certainly gives an unusual visual impression.

I had seen it for sale on Seiya Japan four or five years ago but never pulled the trigger. As they were intended to be Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) only, they were never officially sold in the USA. You can still find them for sale on eBay and Chrono24 these days for about the same price as they were sold new.

While performing research for this article (mostly consisting of Googling), I found one on eBay for $149. There was no BIN option. I bid $149. As the only bidder, #1237 of 1500 is now mine. I was pleasantly surprised with how this watch looks in the metal. I already referred to this watch as funky and that is still true. In person, though, the funkiness is much more appealing than in pictures. Is it weird? Sure. Why does this watch have a 24-hour subdial? No idea.

After wearing it for the last couple weeks, the rotated dial makes a lot of sense for when you check the time during all sorts of daily activities. It isn’t only for motorcycles.

I’m not sure how it will fit into my rotation but it is an interesting piece to keep around.

Bald Rider

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